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Topic: TikTok

You'll be able to share ‘poems, lyrics and other written content.’ News 

TikTok Introduces Text Posts to Rival Instagram Stories

Jim Hendler, ,

TikTok, the undisputed leader in short-form videos, is expanding its horizons by introducing a feature that enables users to share their stories, poems, lyrics, and other written content. This move provides users with an additional avenue for self-expression. The toolkit looks simple enough. Just go to the app’s Camera page and select “text”. You can write whatever you want, add sounds, mark places, enable comments and even integrate with Duets. The company says these text messages are as interactive and dynamic as video and photo messages. For this purpose, you…

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TikTok to accelerate its adoption of new EU standards. (REUTERS) News 

TikTok Urged by EU Digital Chief to Implement New Regulations Promptly

Nitin Misra,

The European commissioner responsible for the digital market has called on TikTok, the Chinese video-sharing platform, to speed up its implementation of the latest EU standards. Strict new European rules on transparency, data protection, child protection, disinformation and hate speech come into effect next month, and internet giants are racing to comply. On Monday, TikTok conducted a “stress test” of its systems at its European headquarters in Dublin to determine whether it could adapt to the EU’s digital services law. Later, European Commissioner Thierry Breton called TikTok CEO Shou Zi…

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It launched closed beta testing for the service in Brazil and Indonesia. News 

TikTok Launches Music Streaming Service in Australia, Mexico and Singapore

Adriana Marais, , ,

TechCrunch and CNBC have reported that TikTok is now offering users in Australia, Mexico, and Singapore the opportunity to join a closed beta test for its upcoming music streaming service. This comes after the app initially launched the beta testing phase in Brazil and Indonesia in July. As part of the expansion, invited users in these regions will receive a complimentary three-month trial to experience the service. TikTok Music is a completely separate app that testers can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. However, it connects…

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TikTok, which has more than 1 billion users worldwide, continues to face potential bans in its major markets. (AFP) News 

TikTok Fails to Meet EU Regulations in ‘Stress Test’

Adriana Marais

The European Union’s governing body has conducted a test revealing that TikTok is not fully adhering to the upcoming regulations regarding content. European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and his team conducted a so-called stress test at TikTok’s Dublin offices on Monday, according to the official, who noted that more work is needed for the EU’s digital services. The deadline for compliance with the law is August 25. “Recent events have shown the influence and impact TikTok has on people’s lives and democracies,” Breton said. TikTok counts more than…

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But it's not available in the US just yet. News 

TikTok Introduces Passkey Login Feature for iOS Devices

Sanjay Patil, ,

TikTok has joined the expanding roster of third-party apps that now offer passkey login on the iPhone. This means that users of the widely-used video-sharing platform can now conveniently access their accounts using their Apple ID passkey, which can be authenticated through Face or Touch ID. Passkeys, being composed of a cryptographic key pair, are regarded as a more secure alternative to traditional password logins. One of the keys is a public key associated with the website or service, while the other is a private key stored only on the…

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The lawsuit names Gov. Greg Abbott and 14 other public officials as defendants. News 

Texas Professors Take Legal Action Against State’s TikTok Ban

Adriana Marais, ,

According to The Washington Post, a lawsuit has been filed by a collective of university professors against Texas for its decision to prohibit the use of TikTok on state devices and networks. The professors argue that this ban hampers their ability to conduct research and teach effectively, as it restricts their exploration of TikTok’s disinformation and data-collection methods, which the ban purportedly aims to address. Additionally, the plaintiffs claim that the prohibition severely limits their capacity to incorporate TikTok into their classrooms, whether for educational purposes or to utilize TikTok…

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The company outlined major changes in a new memo on its product strategy. News 

Tumblr Develops New Feed to Attract More Users

Jim Hendler,

According to a memo published on the Tumblr Staff blog, the company is set to undergo a significant overhaul of its platform, taking inspiration from TikTok by introducing algorithmic recommendations to users’ feeds. The memo specifically explains the reasons for the upcoming changes and what it describes as Tumblr’s current shortcomings. “The fundamental problem is that Tumblr is not easy to use,” the company writes. “Being a 15-year-old brand is difficult because the brand carries with it people’s preconceived notions about Tumblr.” While Tumblr doesn’t offer specifics about the new…

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A study indicates that younger Americans are more accepting of the social network. News 

Non-TikTok Users Believe Platform Poses National Security Risk

Jim Hendler, , ,

The ongoing efforts to portray TikTok as a potential threat to national security seem to be having an impact, although it is not universally felt. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of American adults view TikTok as a danger. However, this perception differs depending on whether individuals use the platform or not. Only nine percent of TikTok users consider it a significant threat, while 36 percent of non-users share the same concern. Overall, 42 percent of users perceive some level of risk associated with…

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The new service will be replacing TikTok's other platform that will be discontinued later this year. News 

TikTok Unveils Music Platform to Compete with Apple Music and Spotify

Adriana Marais, ,

In a bid to compete with industry giants Apple and Spotify, TikTok has introduced a music streaming service that operates on a subscription model. The music streaming service called TikTok Music has been launched first in Brazil and Indonesia. The service replaces ByteDance’s existing streaming service Resso (which is also available in India), which will be shut down in the two countries on September 5. Existing Resso users can transfer their accounts to the new application “with the push of a button”. “We’re excited to introduce TikTok Music, a new…

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Its success in the region is crucial for TikTok as it faces a possible ban in the US on national security concerns. (REUTERS) News 

Amazon Pilots Shopping Service with Potential to Generate $20 Billion from TikTok

Adriana Marais,

In a shophouse located in Northeast Jakarta, numerous salespeople rotate in promoting cosmetics, contact lenses, and hair accessories. One woman assists a potential customer in selecting the perfect lipstick shade to match her skin tone, while a man loudly announces the most recent discount on vitamin tablets. This is not a rowdy flea market. It’s TikTok’s streaming marketplace and a gold rush for entrepreneurs looking to make their fortune on the world’s most popular short video app. Best known for viral dance challenges and owned by China’s ByteDance Ltd., TikTok…

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Spotify is reportedly looking into the possibility of adding full-length music videos to its collection. It will put it in a straight fight with TikTok and YouTube Music. (Bloomberg) News 

Spotify to Challenge TikTok, YouTube Music with Launch of Music Videos

Jim Hendler, ,

According to sources familiar with the matter, Spotify, the well-known music streaming platform, is exploring the idea of incorporating complete music videos into its repertoire. This strategic maneuver is intended to enhance its competitiveness in comparison to YouTube Music, which already provides substantial music video support, as well as to rival the popularity of TikTok, a prominent platform for short-form videos. A report from Bloomberg reveals Spotify’s intention to introduce music videos, a feature that has the potential to greatly enhance its market position. Currently, Spotify allows artists to upload…

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The app can generate instrumentals from your hummed tunes. News 

ByteDance Launches Ripple Music App for Creators

Jim Hendler, , ,

ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has launched a new app called Ripple that aims to simplify the process of composing and editing music for creators. Currently available only in the US and being tested in a closed beta environment, Ripple is designed to assist creators, particularly beginners and those who prefer simpler systems, in a similar way to portable smart digital audio workstations (DAWs). The app also aims to make it easier for creators to incorporate custom soundtracks into their short-form videos on TikTok and other platforms. Ripple…

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The app was nearly identical to BeReal, last year's viral sensation. News 

TikTok Terminates TikTok Now Feature

Nitin Misra,

As per The Verge, TikTok has informed its users that it will be discontinuing TikTok Now, which was essentially a copy of the popular social media platform BeReal from last year. Several users have shared screenshots indicating that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is revamping the TikTok experience and discontinuing TikTok Now. BeReal was Apple’s iPhone app of 2022, but the buzz around the social media app has died down recently. The app took an interesting approach compared to the competition and sent notifications at a different time each day, prompting…

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New Family Pairing features allow content filtering by words or hashtags. News 

TikTok Enhances Parental Oversight of Content Viewed by Teens

Jim Hendler,

TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, has been under scrutiny in the US and other countries due to its large number of young users and inappropriate content. In response, the company has announced that it will provide parents with more control over their teenagers’ viewing habits. The “Family Pairing” feature will now include content filtering controls that allow parents to block videos containing certain words or hashtags while still allowing their children to use the app. TikTok introduced Family Pairing in 2020 as a way to let parents link…

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Short video app TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, said on Thursday it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years, as it doubles down on the region amid intensifying global scrutiny over its data security. News 

TikTok To Pump Billions Of Dollars Into Southeast Asia To Strengthen E-commerce Presence

Adriana Marais,

TikTok, the short video app owned by ByteDance of China, announced on Thursday that it plans to invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia in the coming years. This move is aimed at strengthening its presence in the region, which is facing increased global scrutiny over data security concerns. Southeast Asia, a region with a combined population of 630 million — half of them under the age of 30 — is one of TikTok’s biggest markets by user count, bringing more than 325 million visitors to the app each month.…

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The Meta Quest 3 is launching this fall. News 

Meta is experimenting Reels on Meta Quest

Jim Hendler, , , , , , , ,

Initially created by Instagram to rival TikTok, Reels has now been introduced on Facebook as well. Meta, the parent company, is now experimenting with Reels on a new platform – the Meta Quest. While the VR headset is primarily used for browsing the internet, playing games, and watching movies, the addition of Reels, which are typically viewed vertically, offers a unique viewing experience compared to the more flexible and screen-wide options available. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the update in a 13-second video on Meta’s Instagram channel. It…

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The city says the automaker's negligence contributed to a public nuisance. News 

NYC Files Lawsuit Against Hyundai for Alleged Negligence in Connection to TikTok Car Thefts

Jim Hendler, , , ,

Hyundai recently settled a class action lawsuit for $200 million due to a TikTok car theft challenge. The settlement aimed to compensate US Hyundai and Kia owners who suffered car theft or damage, with a payout of approximately $145 million. However, the issue is not yet resolved as New York City has filed a lawsuit against the automaker for negligence and causing a public nuisance. Specifically, the city accuses the automaker of choosing to “sacrifice public safety for profits” by avoiding universal anti-theft technology in certain U.S. models of Kia…

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The news comes as TikTok faces calls from U.S. lawmakers to ban the popular short-form video app News 

TikTok’s US security chief leaves company amid app ban

Adarsh V.K, ,

Popular video-sharing app TikTok said Tuesday that its U.S. director of trust and security, Eric Han, is leaving the company amid a growing ban on the Chinese app in the country. US technology website The Verge was the first to report the development, citing an internal employee memo. The news comes as TikTok faces calls from US lawmakers to ban the popular short-form video app in the country over concerns about its Chinese ownership and the protection of US user data. Eric Han, TikTok’s head of US information security trust…

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China said Australia's "discriminatory" ban on TikTok from all federal governmentowned devices harmed the interests of Australian businesses and the public, urging Canberra to treat all firms fairly, a commerce ministry statement said on Friday. News 

China urges Australia to treat all companies, including TikTok, fairly

Nitin Misra, , ,

China said Australia’s “discriminatory” ban on TikTok from all federally-owned devices harmed the interests of Australian businesses and the public and called on Canberra to treat all companies fairly, the trade department said in a statement on Friday. “Australia treated TikTok differently from other social media platforms and introduced discriminatory restrictive measures that are not conducive to maintaining Australia’s national security,” the statement said. China also urged Australia to create a favorable environment for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. While there is a nationwide ban in the US, Chinese short-form…

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to a government-wide ban on the use of TikTok after the completion of a review by the Home Affairs department News 

Australia bans TikTok on government devices after security review

Sanjay Patil, ,

Australia will announce a ban on TikTok on government phones this week after other countries banned the Chinese video app over security concerns, Australian newspapers reported late Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to a government-wide ban on TikTok following an investigation by the Home Office, an Australian newspaper reported. The state of Victoria is also banning a short video app from government phones, The Age newspaper reported, citing a state government official as saying that Victoria would follow the federal government’s guidelines. The US, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium…

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